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The Japan Automobile Manufactures Association (JAMA), in pursuit of their goal of “creating products that put a minimum of load on the earth's environment”, have been carrying out an LCA Study related to motor vehicles. At the time of the previous TLC, for a single car taken as a collection of parts, an LCI study of the carbon dioxide emissions and consumption of energy only was carried out. It was based on 17 basic categories of materials and 13 basic manufacturing process categories. At the time of this study, the data obtained was limited to the total material consumption and energy consumption related to the manufacture of a typical 2000cc Japanese passenger car. The current study was focused on a 1500cc gasoline engine 4-door passenger sedan model, and we reclassified into approximately 140 classifications. The production process data was limited to the target model.

Electric vehicles(EVs) are expected to be effective in reducing various atmospheric emissions, but the extent of their advantages depends on the energy mix used in electric power generation. In this study, we first estimated the atmospheric emissions resulting from the use of EVs under the present energy mix. We then investigated the cost-effectiveness of EVs and other alternative fuel vehicles under the assumption that the structure of the present energy system was modified. EVs are apromising mode of future transportation and continuous efforts should be directed toward their development. At the same time, efforts must be made to reduce atmospheric emissions from power generation before EVs come into widespread use in the market.

The first LCA study conducted by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association was carried out to calculate energy consumption and CO2 emissions for average passenger cars in Japan. Five stages including mining and producing material, parts and automobile production, operation, maintenance, and disposal and recycling; and inter-stage transportation was included in the scope of evaluation. Energy consumption and CO2 emissions was evaluated and the influence of the average running speed during operation and the influence of part changes were examined.

The quiet STOL research airplane (ASKA) was developed as a research aircraft that would provide high levels of STOL performance at low levels of community noise. The ASKA is a C-l tactical transport, modified to incorporate a USB type propulsive-lift system powered by MITI/NAL FJR71O/600S and equipped the BLC and the SCAS. During first 2 years of flight research, the flight tests have been devoted to confirm the initial airworthiness and system function except the BLC system. But all these tests have been limited to the shallow USB flap configuration without the BLC, because of cracks appeared in the engines. The major subjects in this period were as follows; evaluation of newly developed engine, actual proof of structure, confirmation of different avionics systems and the SCAS, and documenting of fundamental flying quality and performance. We have the flight program that the effort will be concentrated on documenting the STOL characteristics in the low speed region.

“ASKA” is a STOL airplane with Upper Surface Blown type (USB) flaps used to perform research on powered lift technology developed by the National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL). ASKA has four high bypass ratio turbofan engines mounted above and forward of the wings, hydraulically actuated flight controls, and the Stability and Control Augmentation System (SCAS). The SCAS is a triple redundant system with three digital computers. In order to develop and evaluate its control laws, flight simulator tests have been conducted for 9 years during the design phase. Four flights have been devoted to evaluate functions of the SCAS and the control laws. The significant features of the control laws are to realize satisfactory flying qualities in the deep backside region at low airspeeds.